remanded H-1B

remanded H-1B Case: Staffing

๐Ÿ“… Date unknown ๐Ÿ‘ค Company ๐Ÿ“‚ Staffing

Decision Summary

The appeal was remanded because a recent court decision and subsequent USCIS policy memorandum changed the guidance for evaluating the employer-employee relationship. The AAO sent the case back to the Director to apply the new policy and re-adjudicate the petition.

Criteria Discussed

Employer-Employee Relationship Specialty Occupation

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View Full Decision Text
U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration 
Services 
In Re : 8830020 
Appeal of California Service Center Decision 
Form 1-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (H-lB) 
Non-Precedent Decision of the 
Administrative Appeals Office 
Date : WLY 23, 2020 
The Petitioner, a staffing agency, seeks to temporarily employ the Beneficiary under the H-lB 
nonimmigrant classification for specialty occupations . See Immigration and Nationality Act (the Act) 
section 101(a)(l5)(H)(i)(b), 8 U.S.C. ยง 1101(a)(l5)(H)(i)(b) . The H-lB program allows a U.S . 
employer to temporarily employ a qualified foreign worker in a position that requires both: (a) the 
theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge; and (b) the attainment 
of a bachelor's or higher degree in the specific specialty ( or its equivalent) as a minimum prerequisite 
for entry into the position. 
The Director of the California Service Center denied the petition, concluding that the Petitioner did 
not establish (1) an employer-employee relationship with the Beneficiary; and (2) that the proffered 
position qualifies as a specialty occupation . While this appeal was pending, the U.S. District Court 
for the District of Columbia issued a decision in Itserve Alliance, Inc. v. Cissna, --- F.Supp .3d ---, 
2020 WL 1150186 (D.D.C. 2020). Subsequently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 
rescinded previously issued policy guidance and directed its officers to apply the existing regulatory 
definition at 8 C.F .R. ยง 214 .2(h)(4)(ii) to assess whether a petitioner and a beneficiary have an 
employer-employee relationship. USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0114 , Rescission of Policy 
Memoranda at 2 (June 17, 2020) , http: //www .uscis .gov/legal-resources /policy-memoranda . 
Because this case is affected by the new policy guidance, we find it appropriate to remand the matter 
for the Director to consider the question anew and to adjudicate in the first instance any additional 
issues as may be necessary and appropriate . 1 Accordingly , the following order shall be issued . 
ORDER: The decision of the Director is withdrawn. The matter is remanded for further 
proceedings consistent with the foregoing analysis and entry of a new decision. 
1 We observe that the statement of work states that the Beneficiary 's services will be need until November 2020, which 
approximately a year after the requested H-lB start date. 
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